PMOS/PCOS & hormonal imbalances
Formerly known as PCOS — renamed in a landmark international consensus published in The Lancet, May 2026.
PMOS (formerly PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal conditions in women — and one of the most manageable, once you understand the insulin resistance driving it.
What is PMOS/PCOS?
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) — formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) — is a hormonal condition affecting people with ovaries, typically during reproductive age. It's characterised by some combination of irregular ovulation, elevated androgen (male hormone) levels, and polycystic ovaries visible on ultrasound — though not everyone with PMOS has all three.
PMOS is closely linked to insulin resistance: most people with PMOS have some degree of impaired insulin sensitivity, which both worsens hormonal symptoms and raises long-term risk of type 2 diabetes — making nutrition and metabolic health central to managing the condition.
[VERIFY with Nihala/Tavleen before publishing]Symptoms of PMOS
Symptoms vary significantly between individuals — not everyone experiences all of these.
Diagnosis typically requires a combination of clinical assessment, blood tests (hormone levels) and sometimes ultrasound, performed by a gynaecologist or endocrinologist.
What causes PMOS?
PMOS (formerly PCOS) emerges from an interplay of inherited risk and everyday lifestyle — with insulin resistance sitting at the centre of both.
Genetic factors
PMOS tends to run in families. Research has identified genetic links tied to insulin signalling and hormonal regulation — and unlock.fit's panel includes markers along these risk pathways:
A gene involved in serotonin regulation, with documented links to insulin secretion and associations with higher BMI — both relevant to the metabolic side of PMOS.
Identified in research as relevant to hormonal and immune-regulation pathways connected to reproductive-health conditions.
Broader insulin-sensitivity genes — because insulin resistance is a central driver of PMOS symptoms in most affected individuals.
Lifestyle & environment
Genetics set the predisposition — but day-to-day factors strongly shape how symptoms present and progress:
Insulin resistance — both a cause and a consequence of PMOS, in a self-reinforcing cycle.
Weight gain, particularly abdominal fat, which can worsen hormonal symptoms.
Chronic stress, which disrupts hormonal balance.
A diet high in refined carbohydrates, which worsens insulin resistance.
Regular intake of processed & ultra-processed food.
A sedentary lifestyle and low physical activity.
- 1.HTR1B (serotonin receptor 1B) — associated in genetic studies with insulin secretion and body-mass regulation; included as a metabolic-pathway marker relevant to PMOS risk.
- 2.HLA-G — studied in relation to hormonal and immune-regulation pathways linked to reproductive-health conditions.
- 3.GCKR & IRS1 — established insulin-sensitivity genes; markers reflect the central role of insulin resistance in PMOS.
Marker relevance is drawn from published nutrigenomics research and interpreted by unlock.fit's genetics team. Genetic markers indicate predisposition, not diagnosis.
How unlock.fit's DNA + blood approach helps
Because insulin resistance sits at the centre of most PMOS cases, addressing it through nutrition is one of the most effective non-pharmaceutical levers available.
Our DNA and blood panel identifies your individual insulin sensitivity and relevant hormonal-pathway genetics — so our dietitians build a plan that targets the resistance driving your symptoms, rather than a generic “PMOS diet” template.
Test — DNA + blood biomarkers
A simple saliva sample and a blood panel map your genetic carbohydrate sensitivity and current insulin markers.
A plan calibrated to you
A lower-glycaemic, higher-fibre, protein-forward approach tuned to your genetic carb sensitivity — built around Indian foods you actually eat.
Guidance beyond the plate
Ongoing dietitian support across the lifestyle factors — sleep, stress and activity — that influence hormonal balance.
Frequently asked
Why was PCOS renamed to PMOS?
In May 2026, an international consensus of clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates — led by Monash University alongside the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society and dozens of patient organisations — renamed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The change followed more than a decade of global consultation and was published in The Lancet.
The old name centred on ovarian cysts, which aren't actually a required or defining feature of the condition. PMOS better reflects what it really is: a whole-body hormonal and metabolic syndrome involving insulin resistance, androgen excess, and inflammation — not just an ovarian issue.
Your diagnosis doesn't change because of the rename — if you were diagnosed with PCOS, you have PMOS, same condition under a more accurate name. You may still see "PCOS" on prescriptions, insurance forms, and medical records for some time, since full clinical rollout is expected to take up to three years.
Is PMOS (PCOS) genetic?
PMOS tends to run in families, and research has identified genetic links connected to insulin signalling and hormonal regulation. However, lifestyle factors — particularly diet and weight — strongly influence how PMOS symptoms present and progress.
Can PMOS (PCOS) be cured?
PMOS cannot currently be "cured," but symptoms can often be significantly improved or managed through sustained changes in diet, weight, activity and stress management — and, where appropriate, medical treatment guided by a gynaecologist or endocrinologist.
What is the best diet for PMOS (PCOS)?
There's no single "best" PMOS diet, but approaches that improve insulin sensitivity — lower in refined carbohydrates, higher in fibre and protein — tend to be most effective. Individual carbohydrate sensitivity varies, which is where personalised guidance helps.
Does PMOS (PCOS) always cause weight gain?
Not always, but it's common — because PMOS is closely linked to insulin resistance, which can make weight gain easier and weight loss harder. Some people with PMOS maintain a typical weight while still experiencing other symptoms.
Keep reading
More on managing PMOS through nutrition, from the unlock.fit blog.
Understand your insulin resistance
and your PMOS risk
Start with a DNA + blood report, or talk to a nutrigenomics expert first — whichever feels right.
PMOS diagnosis and hormonal-treatment decisions should involve a gynaecologist or endocrinologist. unlock.fit's role is nutrition-focused support that complements your medical care.